Bitten

Chapter Three

     After what feels like an hour, and after Barry got out of the waiter uniform, he led the way to an old gray Lincoln, opened the passenger side door for me, and I slide right in. Once he was in the driver’s side, he didn’t immediately start the car. I knew that this might be more than a little awkward.

     “When did you get this?” I asked, gesturing to the surrounding hunk of metal we’re sitting in.

     He laughed, briefly. “About a year ago, I’ve earned enough money for the down payment for this. It was all that I could afford.” He answered. Then, after a brief moment of silence, he finally met my gaze, and asked, “Where have you been?”

     “What do you mean?” I asked, already feeling confused by the seemingly ordinary question.

     His gaze didn’t falter. “I think you know what I mean.”

     I sighed anxiously. This is the part that I’ve feared the most. Running into him was a wonderful accident, but this is what’s causing the butterflies to flutter in my stomach. Any normal, sane human would call me insane if I’d told them the real truth. But this is Barry, one of my best friends, and he knows that I’m a terrible liar. So there’s no way that I can get myself out of this situation.

    “If I tell you,” I began, my voice hesitant, “will you promise to hear me out, and wait until I’m finished before you run off screaming like a little girl?” I held his gaze, begging for him to comply.

     For a moment, he seemed just as hesitant as I am. He began staring at random objects that were in front of him, probably thinking it over. Eventually, after staring at the windshield for five minutes, his eyes finally met mine. “I promise.” He said.

     I took another deep breath, my nerves already on hot wire. Now that I’ve got his word, I’m now worried if he’ll keep it after hearing the whole story.

     “It was on December 8, 2009. You remember that day, do you?” I had to ask, hoping it will jog his memory.

     He went back to looking at the windshield again, but unlike the last time, it was quicker. Eventually his entire body lit up in recognition. “Yes. That’s when… that’s the day you disappeared.”

     “I’m glad you remembered.” I admitted sheepishly. “Because what I’m about to tell you may sound crazy.”

     “Rita, we’ve been friends since kindergarten, I’m pretty sure I can handle it.” He said reassuringly.

     I laughed bitterly. “I hope you’re right.” I muttered, before I began telling the tale about the stupid, reckless decision that made me the monster that I am today.

     When I had finally finished, everything inside the car grew eerily silent. And throughout the entire time, it felt like many, many hours have passed by without us knowing. Even Barry’s skin seemed to have lost all color. I wanted to break the silence, but my brain was already frozen. I was already too afraid to speak, to say something soothing after what I’d just told. Instead, I just sat there, and waited for the color to return to his face.

     “You’re a vampire.” He whispered. The words seemed to echo in the small confines of the Lincoln.

     “Yes.” I answered, also in a whisper.

     It grew quiet again. For a moment, I actually wondered if he really does have any intentions of getting out of the car, and running away. No, he gave me his word. And if I know Barry very well, he is a man of his word. But with the awkward silence, I couldn’t help but silently question him.